1953-54 Theatre Catalog, 11th Edition, Page 43 (9)

1953-54 Theatre Catalog, 11th Edition, Page 43

A Convertible Theatre

Englandvs First Post-War Theatre was so Constructed
That it Can Easily he Converted into a Factory Site

BRIEF: It is rather interesting that the
first motion picture theatre to be built
in England since the end of the war is
one that can be converted into a two
story factory building when the need
arises . . . Constructed in an industrial
area . . . with an expanding population
. . . the authorities recognized the need
for film entertainment . . . The result
is the Regal . . . a theatre with a dual
personality . . . While the construction
of such a house is proper . . . considering
the vital need in Great Britain . . . the
Editors of THEATRE CATALOG are sure
that it will never become necessary for
theatres in general to be constructed
with the thought of converting them into
something else.

The distinction of being the first theatre to be designed and built in England
since the end of World War II falls to
the Regal, Harlow New Town, Essex.

The most interesting feature of this
British house is the fact that it was so
designed and constructed that while it

can provide satisfactory facilities for the
showing of films, it can also easily and
quickly be converted into a factory when
the need arises. Still bent under the
heavy demands of her austerity program, and with the explosive global
political and economic situation, it is
not suprising that this countryls initial
post-war attempt at theatre construcion
should have a dual purpose.

Work on the Regal was completed
last year and took less than five months
to build. The building which was designed
in the offices of the Harlow Development Corporation, was then acoustically
treated, decorated, and the sound and
projection apparatus, seating, carpeting
and other necessary equipment installed.

To facilitate conversion of the building to a factory when required, the
design basically consists of a production
space with a single-span roof of corrugated asbestos-cement sheeting e now
serving as the auditorium-fronted by
a two story office block, of which the
ground Hoor now forms the foyer, offices
and lavatory accommodations. The first
floor houses the projection facilities and
staff restrooms. It follows the basic

design of two story factory buildings
constructed in that particular area.

Construction is of loadbearing brick
walls with precast concrete beam floors
and roofs to the two story block, and
steel trusses designed from stock steel
sections forming the roof of the auditorium. The entrance front is of six-inch
hollow clay blocks faced with iiuted
asbestos-cement, and has a plaster ceiling on expanded steel lathing. This ceiling can be removed upon conversion
and the roof sheeting and purlins are
designed to facilitate the insertion of
roof glazing. Windows may be inserted
in the cavity brick panel walls.

Heating the two story block is by
radiators with low-pressure hot water,
and of the auditorium by warmed and
washed air on a Plenum system. Full
secondary lighting is installed.

Acoustic treatment consists of the
introduction of Paxtile sound tiles built
in panels around the auditorium. The
Hoor has been treated with a plastic
material containing wood fiber.

THE REGAL was designed as a temporary measure and therefore it was so constructed that the
theatre may be quickly turned into a factory.